Amman, Jordan – 3 June 2026 – Under the esteemed patronage of Her Royal Highness Princess Alia Bint Al Hussein, a pivotal regional workshop titled "Promoting Positive Community Behaviour to Reduce Demand for Wildlife and Birds in the Middle East" commenced today in Amman. This significant gathering convenes a diverse array of stakeholders, including government representatives, national, regional, and international environmental organizations, and leading experts in nature conservation from across the Middle East. The workshop signifies a critical step in addressing the complex challenges of wildlife and bird demand reduction through behavioral science and collaborative action.
Her Royal Highness Princess Alia bint Al Hussein, in her opening address, underscored the profound importance of cultivating positive societal attitudes and behaviors towards the conservation of nature and wildlife. She eloquently highlighted that a deep-seated appreciation for the natural world is an intrinsic element of Arab culture and traditions, a heritage that can be leveraged to foster greater environmental stewardship. "Our connection to nature is ancient and profound," Princess Alia stated. "By nurturing this inherent respect, particularly among our youth, we can build a formidable bulwark against the erosion of biodiversity."
The Princess emphasized the crucial role of awareness-raising, comprehensive education, and the active encouragement of positive behaviors, with a particular focus on empowering children and young people. She articulated that by equipping younger generations with knowledge and fostering their innate curiosity, they can become influential advocates within their peer groups and families. This, she noted, is instrumental in cultivating an informed and environmentally conscious society that fully comprehends the ramifications of losing any element of the natural world and recognizes the imperative of safeguarding natural resources for the benefit of future generations.
Furthermore, Her Royal Highness underscored the strategic value of convening regional workshops that facilitate the exchange of expertise and knowledge among participants from across the Arab world. These forums, she explained, are essential for collaboratively dissecting shared challenges and formulating innovative solutions. Such regional collaboration, she asserted, significantly strengthens wildlife conservation efforts and is indispensable for securing safe migratory routes for birds as they traverse countries and regions along one of the world’s most vital avian flyways.
This crucial workshop is a collaborative effort spearheaded by BirdLife International – Middle East and the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW). Their endeavors are being conducted in close cooperation with the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (RSCN), the Princess Alia Foundation, and the Jordanian Ministry of Environment. The initiative is further bolstered by the support of the Safe Flyways for Migratory Birds Project 3: Reducing Illegal Killing of Birds, a project actively implemented in Lebanon, Syria, Palestine, and other Mediterranean countries, demonstrating a broad commitment to avian protection across the region.
The primary objective of this workshop is to introduce and explore the application of behavioral change principles and approaches, drawing extensively from the social sciences. A key focus will be on enhancing the understanding of the intricate behavioral, social, economic, and cultural factors that contribute to the illegal killing, taking, and trade of birds within the Middle East. The workshop also aims to foster the development of evidence-based solutions and future initiatives designed to effectively reduce the demand for wildlife and birds. Crucially, it seeks to strengthen regional cooperation among governments, civil society organizations, experts, and international partners, thereby reinforcing collective efforts to protect migratory birds and the broader biodiversity of the region.
Strategic Imperatives for Behavioral Change
Ibrahim Al Khader, Regional Director of BirdLife International – Middle East, articulated the organization’s significant role in elevating the issue of illegal bird killing onto the international agenda. Through its extensive network of national partners worldwide, BirdLife International actively supports independent monitoring efforts and generates critical scientific evidence that informs government policies and decision-making processes.
Al Khader highlighted the timeliness of the workshop, stating, "Global assessments consistently point to unsustainable human activities and behaviors as primary drivers of biodiversity loss. Conversely, positive behavioral change offers a powerful pathway to addressing these complex challenges. In the Middle East, a region that serves as one of the world’s most critical migratory bird flyways, the persistent threat of illegal and unsustainable killing, taking, and trade continues to endanger numerous migratory and resident bird species, including those of global conservation concern." He stressed that achieving substantial progress necessitates a paradigm shift, moving beyond a sole reliance on legislation and enforcement to a deeper comprehension of the underlying social, economic, and cultural drivers that fuel the demand for birds and wildlife.
Jordan’s Commitment to Conservation
Mr. Abdul Razzaq Al Hamoud, Director of Protection and Sustainable Hunting at the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (RSCN), reaffirmed Jordan’s long-standing commitment to nature conservation, a priority since the Kingdom’s inception. He emphasized the proactive approach taken through public awareness campaigns and the cultivation of robust partnerships between national institutions and civil society organizations. The RSCN, he explained, continues to implement vital conservation programs and champion sustainable hunting practices to bolster biodiversity conservation, while actively supporting both national and regional initiatives aimed at protecting nature and wildlife. Although the Safe Flyways Project is not directly implemented in Jordan, Al Hamoud assured that the RSCN remains dedicated to sharing its expertise and successful experiences to contribute to advancing wildlife conservation efforts across the region.
Al Hamoud further elaborated on how regional instability has unfortunately exacerbated illegal hunting and wildlife trafficking. He emphasized the RSCN’s close collaboration with a spectrum of partners to develop and deploy targeted awareness and information campaigns designed to foster positive behaviors conducive to nature conservation and the sustainable management of natural resources.
International Perspectives on Behavioral Influence
Dr. Akram Issa Darwish, Regional Director of the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), elaborated on the organization’s strategic focus on altering social perceptions and behaviors globally. He noted that these attitudinal shifts have a profound and direct impact on the sustainability and survival of wildlife and its diverse components. Dr. Darwish stressed that achieving meaningful and lasting change necessitates robust coordination, the open exchange of expertise and research findings, and close collaboration among all relevant stakeholders within each country, encompassing both governmental and non-governmental entities. This collaborative synergy, he believes, is vital for transforming attitudes and behaviors that have historically exerted negative impacts on wildlife and the ecosystems upon which they depend.
Dr. Hani Al Shaer, the Regional Director of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) – West Asia Regional Office, provided a crucial perspective on the foundation of effective conservation: "Lasting conservation impact begins with understanding people, influencing behaviour, and empowering communities to become champions of nature." This sentiment underscores the human-centric approach advocated by leading conservation bodies.
Eng. Bilal Qteishat, Director of the Nature Protection Directorate at the Jordanian Ministry of Environment, highlighted that the Ministry considers behavioral change a cornerstone of its biodiversity conservation and habitat protection strategies. He emphasized that local communities are the primary custodians and guarantors of biodiversity’s sustainability. Through its national programs and in partnership with national and international civil society organizations, the Ministry actively endeavors to promote behavioral change by disseminating targeted awareness and guidance messages that encourage positive environmental practices and bolster conservation endeavors.
Building on Past Successes and Future Outlook
This Amman workshop represents the second regional gathering of its kind, building directly upon the valuable outcomes of the inaugural workshop held in Jordan in 2024. That earlier event underscored the critical need for enhanced regional cooperation and the development of innovative tools to address the underlying causes and motivations driving the illegal killing, taking, and trade of birds.
A Grim Reality: The Scale of Illegal Bird Killing
Recent estimates paint a stark picture of the avian crisis in the Mediterranean region, indicating that approximately 25 million birds are illegally killed, trapped, or poisoned annually. This alarming figure encompasses a wide spectrum of avian life, from the smallest songbirds to the largest birds of prey. The comprehensive report, "The Killing 3.0," which stands as the most extensive independent assessment of illegal bird killing in the region, recorded an estimated 20% decline in illegal bird killing levels compared to previous assessments. However, this progress is unevenly distributed across countries, and high levels of illegal bird killing in any single nation can significantly undermine conservation gains achieved elsewhere along critical migratory flyways. This reality unequivocally underscores the paramount importance of sustained regional cooperation, dedicated investment, and unwavering long-term political commitment to achieve enduring results.
Throughout the workshop, participants are actively engaged in exploring practical applications of behavioral change approaches to effectively reduce the demand for wildlife and birds in the Middle East. Discussions are delving into core behavioral change concepts and tools, alongside an in-depth examination of the social, economic, and cultural factors that currently fuel the illegal killing, taking, and trade of birds.
Further sessions are dedicated to dissecting the influential roles of traditions and social norms, the potential of sustainable livelihood alternatives, and the power of communication, awareness-raising, and education in fostering positive attitudes and behaviors towards birds and wildlife. Participants are also identifying and discussing opportunities and challenges inherent in regional and international cooperation frameworks designed to tackle these complex issues.
The workshop agenda also includes an exploration of current and emerging trends within the bird trade across the region, as well as an analysis of the significant role technology and digital platforms play in shaping consumer demand for wildlife. Discussions are also addressing future priorities for integrating behavioral change approaches into ongoing and future bird conservation projects and initiatives, ensuring a strategic and adaptive approach to conservation efforts.
Participants are expected to reach a consensus on the fundamental principle that understanding the diverse motivations behind human behavior is indispensable for developing more effective and sustainable conservation solutions. These motivations, it is recognized, vary significantly across social, economic, and cultural contexts, necessitating the development of tailored responses that are sensitive to and reflective of the specific circumstances of individual communities.
Ultimately, the workshop is poised to yield a comprehensive set of practical recommendations and actionable initiatives. These will be strategically designed to reduce demand for illegal activities involving birds and wildlife, while simultaneously strengthening regional cooperation and providing robust support for biodiversity conservation efforts across the entire Middle East. The outcomes of this workshop are anticipated to serve as a crucial roadmap for future conservation endeavors in the region.
